Border Patrol Agents Save Two Children From Heat

Border Patrol agents working out of the Weslaco Station in the Rio Grande Valley Sector rescued two illegal immigrant children who were suffering the effects of the extreme south Texas heat on Monday.

The two unaccompanied alien children (UAC) were traveling with a group of illegal immigrants near the town of Hidalgo, Texas. Agents observed a nine-year-old boy who was having difficulty breathing and a five-month-old baby suffering from heat exposure, information obtained by Breitbart Texas from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials revealed.

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Agents quickly arranged a transport by ambulance to a local hospital for the two UACs. The infant was treated and released to his mother. The nine-year-old boy was held at the hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

“There are the horrifying dynamics that come with crossing the border into the United States and these vulnerable children, some too young to even walk or talk are risking their lives without a parent or guardian. It’s sad and entering illegally is extremely dangerous,” says Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Jesse Jimenez.

Agents have seen a massive increase in the number of child rescues performed this summer. More than 5,000 unaccompanied children have been captured crossing the border in July, reports obtained by Breitbart Texas reveal. That number represents an increase of more than 1,200 over the previous month, and the third highest total of the year. The Rio Grande Valley Sector has seen a total of 46,295 UAC captured during this fiscal year, up more than sixty percent from a year ago.

Family unit apprehensions are also up this year over last, the report indicates. 48,155 family units were captured in the Rio Grande Valley Sector as of the end of July. This represents an increase of ninety-four percent over the previous year’s numbers.

Officials report that the high humidity and consistent heat, along with the rugged terrain, can quickly cause these people to become dehydrated. “Immigrants are urged not to put their safety at risk by illegally entering the United States or attempting to circumvent a checkpoint,” Border Patrol officials stated.

Dozens of illegal immigrants have been found dead this year in south Texas after being abandoned by their callus human smugglers.

Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served as a prosecutor and associate judge in Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2.